2018 1 19 - 2018 1 25
Meet Gian. My cute dorky potato. Look at that happy face, completely unaware of his hair. It is always like that when he’s happy. This here is my travel buddy and best friend. He puts up with my lack of emotional response and I put up with his lack of logic. He completes me.
Meet Justin. A close friend since
the first time we travelled
second grade. We’re always
together and it was sure as
pushing each other to do
hell a good time. I’m sure
weird things and to start
there will be many more
up new hobbies. This was
adventures together.
On the day we arrived,
We knew food in Iceland
we knew we had to be
was particularly expensive
responsible adults and
since more or less
prepare for the trip.
everything was imported.
We kept travelling to a
This was the best decision
minimum and simply stayed
we made on the trip. Food
in the city centre to
in restaurants was absurdly
explore before buying
expensive regardless of
groceries for the week.
where we went.
Sรณlfar The Sun Voyager Sun Voyager is described as a dreamboat, or an ode to the sun. The artist intended it to convey the promise of undiscovered territory, a dream of hope, progress and freedom. This was fitting to be our first destination of our trip. We stumbled upon the sculpture by accident, and looking back at the entire trip, the concept behind this work captures how we felt so perfectly.
January 20, 2018 Reyjkavik Gullfoss Strokkur Geysir Fontana Spa Efstidalur Þingvellir Binni’s House
Iceland day 2 began early
The entire drive was
in the morning at Binni’s
absolutely stunning from
house. Thorkell was kind
start to finish. The
enough to offer to drive us
morning began with a light
around the golden circle
dusting of snow blowing
for the day.
across the road, making it look like clouds. We only saw the faint silhouette of mountains for the first hour before the sun displayed a brilliant sunrise that resembled flames, reflected off the water below.
Gullfoss This was the first stop on our itinerary, and a rude awakening in the form of an icy slap across the face. Resting temperature in the city was about 18 degrees - sweater weather, right? Wrong. The wind came like a sucker punch, and combined with the mist from the falls, it felt like winter herself spitting on my face. On the bright side, the view was breathtaking.
Strokkur Geysir This is where we accepted the fact that the trip would be characterized by rotten eggs. Sulfur was emitted from geothermic activity, and it just so happens that Iceland has geothermic activity everywhere. Even the showers smelled like eggs. The geyser erupted every few minutes, bringing with it a great mist of egg - which was pretty cool for pictures. Water from the geyser also produced a cool layered texture on the ground.
The grass around geothermic pools was particularly lush, but didn’t exhibit much life. It was refreshing to see some green among the vast fjords of white. Tree branches were covered in ice, but in the most amazing way. It built up an inch thick only on one side of the branch away from the geyser.
The next two stops for
Fontana spa was the
the day was at a farm
second last stop (the
steakhouse and Fontana
last being Thingvellir,
spa. We stopped at the
but I will mention the
steakhouse for ice cream
location later) it had
- honestly the best
pools that came straight
icecream I ever had.
from geothermic sources.
It was made fresh from
The spa also had direct
cows on site, which you
access to Ăžingvallavatn,
could see from windows in
an icy lake we had the
the dining room. Kind of
opportunity to “bathe�
sick in my opinion but at
in. Surprisingly, the 2
the same time it makes for
degree water contrasting
a cool experience.
with the hotspring was quite relaxing. I would definitely recommend it.
Our final destination for
i’ve ever had. It sounds
the day was back at Binni’s
like an exaggeration with
house. He graciously
the best ice cream and
offered to cook us a meal
lamb, but Gian would say
and it was the best lamb
the same, I swear.
January 21, 2018 Reyjkavik Gatklettur Hraunfossar
If a roadtrip is the goal, I strongly believe Iceland is the place to go. Summer has 24 hour daylight, meaning you can rest whenever you want and sightsee whenever you want, and it would be just as bright. Winter may be a little more difficult with 5 hours of daylight, but with the chance of seeing the aurora, it is definitely worth it.
Our trip for the day was up
Initially, we only expected
North to Gatklettur. There
to see the arch from the
was significantly more
cliffside. What we didn’t
snow in this region which
expect is that the journey
blanketed the black rocky
was every part as great as
landscape. Most of the
the final destination.
drive was black and white, and any pop of colour that appeared along the way created a nice contrast.
Gatklettur Being high up on a cliff, surrounded by the sea and mountains with crisp fresh air really does something for the soul. It’s such an amazing experience to be able to feel as if you were the only person there in such a wide space. Although, it was also scary knowing one wrong step could be very bad. There were no railings on the cliffs above the roaring waves.
Hraunfossar This was the only other destination for day since it was getting dark. This was a beautiful shallow cascade falls over a wide range. The water underneath the falls was a brilliant caerulean that very much resembled mouthwash.
January 22, 2018 Reyjkavik Þingvellir Reyjkavik
Ăžingvellir We ended up frequenting this place many, many times throughout the trip. Our first time here, we walked around the national park, in the areas where Game of Thrones was supposedly filmed. On this day, we snorkelled in the fridged waters between two tectonic plates. The experience was absolutely incredible.
We finished off the day
The museum had a guided
with the whale experience.
recording, explaining the
I, personally, am obsessed
differences and similarity
with whales for whatever
between different kinds of
reason and had to go to
whales and dolphins.
the whale museum.
I loved the fact that they had lifesize replicas of the mammals.
Being the adventure
to me. The shark smelled
seekers we are, naturally,
like hair dye and tasted
we wanted to try all the
like a slap across the
foods not available in
face. It was pungent and
Toronto. On this night,
made my nose hairs tingle.
we tried whale steak as
I would recommend people
well as fermented shark.
try it for the experience,
I did not enjoy either.
but not much otherwise.
The whale tasted like a fishy beef which was gross
January 23, 2018 Reyjkavik Reykjadalur
Reykjadalur We spent the day hiking through the mountains to Reykjadalur. A couple bad decision were made, for example, the time we decided to go. It was bright and beautiful when we went - around 2. There were about 5 hours of sunlight each day, ending around 5pm. We ended up having to hike 1.5 hours through the mountain in the dark with a single flashlight to get home. It’s a good thing there aren’t any predators in Iceland.
We were told streams in
stream. We started filling
the mountain were all
our waterbottles from
safe to drink from. I can
the stream and took sips
say that the water is the
wherever we could. However,
freshest water I have
since everything was
ever had. It was chilled
covered with snow, it was
from the environment
difficult to tell where it
and slightly sweet from
was safe to step.
whatever else was in the
We had finally reached the
The most agonizing part of
hotspring area at sunset,
this adventure was having
pleasantly surprised we
to dry off and change
were the only ones there.
outside in the fridged
We ended up staying for
temperature. Then of
about 2 hours, soaking in
course, having to hike 1.5
the water surrounded by
hours in the dark to get
snow layered mountains.
back to the car. Would I do
It was such a beautiful
it again?
experience to be able to look up from stream and see stars undisturbed by light.
I wouldn’t hesitate.
January 24, 2018 Reyjkavik Öxarárfoss Brúarfoss Kerið Þingvellir
Ă–xarĂĄrfoss The day started off extra
on, effectively tossing me
windy which was absolutely
out the car. The momemtum
hilarious hiking through
carried me several meters
it. The path to the
which was difficult to
waterfall was completely
recover from with the wind
iced over - and it was
blowing. I struggled for
smooth ice. When we first
a good minute trying to
got there, obviously you
shut the door. The rest of
get out of the car.
the hike was just as fun.
I cracked open the door,
We had to go up and down
and the wind flung the
small hills which proved
door the rest of the way
extremely difficult in icy
- with me still holding
and windy conditions.
BrĂşarfoss This waterfall was my
Because it was shallow, you
favourite of the trip.
could explore around and
Other waterfalls were
climb all over it. To me,
massive and majestic in its
that’s a lot more fun than
own way, but this one was
just looking at a massive
a shallow cascade falls
waterfall. Too bad it was
that you could potentially
too cold to splash around.
have a lot of fun at.
This was one of those opportunities that we took our time relishing in the experience. Iceland is such a beautiful place no matter where you go. Anywhere you drive, it’s always exciting. There are so many places to explore here. Unfortunately, so little time.
KeriĂ° This place was more of a
so we didn’t have much
spontaneous stop on the way
opportunity to explore the
home rather than a planned
area. The main attraction
location. It was already
here was the crater lake -
past sunset when we arrived
which was frozen over.
The absolute highlight
up in greens, reds, pinks,
of the trip. We closely
and purples that danced and
watched the weather
waved through the sky.
conditions and a website for the chance of the
We were all stunned -
aurora appearing, and on
jaws all on the floor. It
the second last day, we had
was truly an emotional
the honour of witnessing
experience.
this beautiful phenomenon. We were excited when we
We spent at least 2.5
saw a speck of green in
hours in the freezing
the sky - we drove in the
temperature, searing the
direction of it for 40
image in our minds. It’s
minutes to Þingvellir,
unfortunate I didn’t have
completely unaware of the
a proper tripod and lens
massive display behind
for the display, but I’m
us. We finally get to the
looking forward to my next
destination and turn around
oppotunity to capture it.
to see the sky brightly lit
January 25, 2018 Reyjkavik Vík Seljalandsfoss Skógafoss Blue Lagoon
VĂk We had to reschedule our trip here several times because of the weather conditions. We were worried that we wouldn’t be able to make it because of the wind, but we got lucky on the last day. We woke up extremely early to get to the destination by sunrise, and of course, it was stunning. We saw many animals along the trip and had to stop to admire the horse. They had long hair for the winter, but it looked as if it were regularly bathed and blow-dried.
There were warning signs
We went for the basalt
everywhere telling people
columns and the black sand
to stay off the tow zone of
as any other tourist would
the water because people
do. We also considered
have been dragged out into
visiting the plane wreck
sea. It was the open ocean
but decided not to because
without any bays to act as
of a lack of daylight.
a barrier.
Seljalandsfoss This waterfall is known for having a path behind the falls. Unfortunately, the path was frozen over with several feet of ice so it was closed. We didn’t spend much time here because it seemed lacking compared to the other places we had visited during our trip.
SkĂłgafoss This super massive falls
in my life struggling up
was freezing to be close
the stairs. What’s worse
to because of the mist it
is that I am terrified
produced. There was a long
of stairs with holes in
ass set of stairs that led
them, so on top of being
all the way up the cliff
completely out of breath
to overlook the falls. I
and cramping, I was scared.
had never felt more unfit
Blue Lagoon Iceland’s very own -
there really wasn’t
Blue Lagoon Spa.
anything interesting about
Not worth it.
this place. Fontana was
I would recommend Fontana
interesting since you could
over this place any day.
sit in the fridged lake
It was much more expensive,
water and then come back up
larger in size but also
to bathe. Blue lagoon was
much more crowded, and
just the same pool of water with nothing to see.
That’s all I remember from this trip. Overall, it was one of the more tiring trips because of all the driving and hiking involved. But in terms of views and natural landscapes - it’s been one of the best I’ve experienced so far. As always, it was a memorable one, here’s to many more.